Fire breaks out on Ohio Avenue in Chehalis. / Courtesy photo by Terrence Thompson
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Fire put out on Ohio Avenue in Chehalis
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A large fiberglass boat was spared when a two-story shop building went up in flames yesterday in Chehalis.
Three Chehalis firefighters were joined by more than a dozen members of nearby fire departments when they were called around 5:30 p.m. to the 800 block of Ohio Avenue.
The wood structure was fully involved with 50-foot tall flames, and is a total loss, even though they knocked it down fairly quickly, Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Casey Beck said.
No injuries were reported, but Beck said he understood some kids seen in the area were rounded up by police and may have been playing with fire inside.
Firefighters used foam and kept the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes, he said.
The shop is owned by an individual who lives in Seattle, according to Beck.
The boat, parked right in front of the shop, and a nearby heavy duty mechanic’s truck were saved, he said.
“How it didn’t burn, I do not know,” Beck said of the boat. “It had a little tiny melting in the back.”
Chehalis Firefighter Jay Birley adds foam to the fire
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The burned building is fairly close to two residences.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Hasn’t their been other fires in that area? There was one in a empty house by Kaijas. Our son had the stairwell to his apartment behind Kaijas burned too, luckily it didnt catch on fire just scorched walls.
One of the things I find interesting is that a 14-year-old was hanging out with a 10- and 11-year-old. It’s been a few years, but I don’t remember hanging out with grade schoolers as a high school freshman, let alone “playing with matches” at that age. Sounds like an early case of arrested development.
Jeremy, the fire captain was pretty clear about it. How about if I add another photo?
So was the boat a total loss like The Chronicle reported? In your article, Sharyn, it says the boat was saved, but on Chronline.com it lists it as a total loss. Whose info is correct? I know someone that lives right next to there, I’m SO glad nobody else’s house caught fire.